Kanawha County teacher pleads guilty to defrauding PEIA

by JARROD CLAY

Charisse Nicole Jackson, 47, of Charleston pleaded guilty of one felony count of defrauding the West Virginia PEIA of $21,396.13 over about 130 months, according to a news release from the Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. (MGN Online)

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS/WVAH) —

A Kanawha County teacher pleaded guilty Tuesday to defrauding the West Virginia PEIA of more than $21,000 over a time span of more than 10 years.

Charisse Nicole Jackson, 47, of Charleston pleaded guilty of one felony count of defrauding the West Virginia PEIA of $21,396.13 over about 130 months, according to a news release from the Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

The release said Jackson failed to inform the PEIA of her 1996 divorce from her then-husband and kept listing him as a spouse on her health insurance.

As a result, the PEIA paid for medical bills for her ex-husband that it otherwise would not have been liable for. The release said by keeping her ex-husband on her insurance, Jackson caused Kanawha County Schools to pay excessive employer insurance premium payments of $37,380.

As part of her guilty plea, Jackson received four years’ probation and will be required to make restitution to both PEIA and Kanawha County Schools.

The release said Jackson is currently employed by Kanawha County Schools but is currently suspended as a result of the indictment.

The West Virginia Consolidated Public Employment Retirement System, Kanawha County School, and state department of education have been informed of the plea and conviction, according to the release.